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Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Pivoting the premise: Choosing the preferred of various goods rather than the lesser of two evils

(Originally posted October 9, 2012;reposted here with minor edits

& some updates)

I’m
choosing to reject the idea that any election (or debate over an issue or law) is nothing more than a
forced choice between the lesser of two evils. Instead I’m choosing to
look at these as opportunities to vote/advocate for the preferred of two or more goods.

Most men and women who hold or seek political
office, regardless of party affiliation or philosophical bent, are
intelligent, well-intentioned citizens. There are exceptions, but they
usually get put out of office sooner or later, if they even make it into office at all.

Candidates arise from “We the people of the United States.”

We are the people

Government is supposed to be “of the people, by the people, for the people.”

We are the people. The people are us. What we get in the way of government is what we choose.

Those who serve in elected and appointed offices arose from the midst of us.

Those elected were elected by us.

Those appointed were appointed by those we elected to represent us.

If
candidates arise and get elected who are truly evil, then they arise because we allow
them to and we choose them. And if they persist in office, they persist
because of us.

We usually get what we ask for

The
candidates who are elected get elected because, at least to some
degree, they reflect our values, our desires, our intentions, our
morals, our hopes, our dreams. They get into office because we view them
as a means to achieve what we want; what we believe is best for
ourselves and our country, state, county, or town.

If what we want is evil, then we will choose evil to represent us.

If what we want is good, then we will choose good to represent us.

I do not believe, on the whole, that any major party or serious candidate represents evil per se.

Rather, all candidates are generally good, intelligent, capable people with very different ideas as to what’s best for our country.

Most viewpoints have been shaped and are informed by intelligence and
wisdom, as well as very different life experiences and worldviews.

That
candidates willfully subject themselves to the horrific, abusive
gauntlet of what we have turned political campaigns into in this
country speaks volumes about the toughness, resilience, and perseverance
of their characters and intellects.

To
blast those who represent or support the “other” party, side, or
viewpoint as evil, bad, dishonest, stupid, idiots, or worse, is to
diminish ourselves, revealing our own character flaws. We’re worse than
undisciplined children name-calling on the playground when we sling our
own mud.

We need to stop demonizing each other and our candidates, even when they do it to each other. If candidates or those in office can't behave, we must set an example for them by being better.

To use profanity, insults, ridicule, distortion, belittling, and demeaning language is not to engage in dialogue, but rather to engage in bullying.

To
understand what this looks like and what it leads to simply consider the ugliness of
the mindless hate-driven tauntings and attacks of the Taliban, al Qaeda,
ISIS, KKK, or any such hateful, terroristic, anti- or un-American group.

Multiple well-informed viewpoints; one people under God

We
are being presented with different sets of ideas and methods
for governing our country. These ideas are different and different is not bad.

All viewpoints, generally speaking, are valid and worthy of our thoughtful consideration. We don’t need to agree with them, but we should at least respectfully consider them.

And
then, for President and every other office up for grabs over the coming years, we each get to exercise our wonderful right and privilege to
vote.

We need to respect each others’ choices and support those we place into office.

There’s
a lot of whining that goes on regarding the failure of our elected
politicians to get along and govern in a more bipartisan spirit.If
we, as the governed for whom the elected work, can’t get along with our
own friends, neighbors, relatives, and coworkers who are on the “other”
side, why do we expect those we elect to behave any differently?

Government is supposed to be of the people, by the people, for the people. We are the people. The people are us.

It’s
time for “we the people” to start behaving the way we want those we elect to behave
as they govern our country. It’s our country and our government and it
reflects us to the world.

This means that when the
person we voted for behaves badly or lies, or the party we align with
acts without integrity, we need to call them out and hold them
accountable. It’s not enough to merely point the finger at the foibles
of the “other” side while excusing or whitewashing the same faults on “our” side. And it’s just as wrong to gloat when “they”
slip up.

Oh, and calling for everyone to play nice, get along, and be reasonable while at the same time taking a swipe at your opponent is not cool. It’s simply hypocritical.

Jesus cautioned us about all this when he said, “Why
do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice
the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother,
'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your
own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then
you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye”
(Matthew 7:3-5, ESV).

Check for logs & don’t be mean

Then,
on any election day or in the midst of any debate, regardless of who wins office, we must remember: “Let
every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no
authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by
God” (Romans 13:1, ESV).

Just because your candidate
won or lost the election doesn’t mean you no longer are obligated to
love your neighbor – who voted for the other guy – as yourself. As Paul
reminds us, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably
with all” (Romans 12:18, ESV).

======= What do you think? Reposting this with edits seemed especially apropos given all the heat being generated over the RFRA issue in Indiana. Sadly, it seems the most hateful rhetoric is coming from those accusing RFRA supporters as being intolerant. And all Hoosiers are being painted as bigots by those trying to shout the law down. Much of the media isn’t helping either. It’s okay to disagree, but it’s not cool to bully and abuse your opponents. Please share your thoughts and comment! Just please be nice.

GusWhen a candidate gets on the scene he or she projects one thing but once we vote for them and they get elected they project another thing, often contrary to their original position. Most have proven not trustworthy. Along with this is the unqualified electorate, especially those younger than the greatest generation. They either don't vote, which is a vote in itself, or they don't vote informed. So you end up getting untrustworthy candidates elected by a silent vote or an uniformed vote who will flip when they get in office. Remember hope and change?Remember transparency? I have never missed an election in my near 80 years but I fear I may soon. My cynicism lives. Gus

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Stephen R. Clark is a member of the Evangelical Press Association and the principal of CleverSmith™ Writing based in Oreland, Pennsylvania, as well as the writer of the award-winning blog, FaithBraised™.com. His first full-length novel, an award-winning religious thriller, The Hungering Dark: Awakening, has just been released. You can learn far more than you probably want to know about the book short of reading it at www.TheHungeringDarkStory.com. You can contact him at Stephen@FaithBraised.com.

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